Mechanical vehicle



H. soNonA. MECHANICAL VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1919.

1,346,985. Patented .my 2o, 1920.

HEIJ'IRO SONODA, OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON.

MECHANICAL VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Application filed September 24, 1919. Serial No. 325,861.

To all 'wwm t may concern:

Be it known that I, HniJmo SONODA, a subject of the Emperor of Japan,residing at ,6% Chestnut St., Yakima, in the county of Yakima and Stateof Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMechanical Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to toys, and particularly to a form of mechanicaltoy made in the form of a car to be run on a grooved wheel and balancedby side weights, and driven by a suitable form of clock work chain ofwheels.

The objects of this invention are to produce a simple yet interestingtoy for children, which may be operated by any suspended cord or ropebetween two horizontal points, the toy to be driven by a clock train ofwheels incased within the body of the toy.

.With these and other objects in view I will illustrate my invention bythe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l represents a side elevation of the toy complete.

Fig. 2 represents a similar side view with part of the car broken awayto show the interior mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a section partly in elevation at a point approximately on aline of shaft 8 in Fi 2.

IgJike figures on diiferent views represent j like parts of theapparatus.

Numeral l shows the car, or body of the toy, which rides on a rope orcord 2, Which may be suspended in any simple manner across a space asacross a cornerV of a play room. The ends of the cord may be of equalheight or one end may be lower than the other to cause the car to ridemore freely one Y way, as may be desired.

Attached under the car and near its middle part is a grooved or sheavewheel 3 fixed to an axle 8, the ends of which turn freely in the sidewalls or shell of the car, and on one side of this axle 8 adjoining theline of edge of the center Wheel 3, is a pinion wheel 6 also fixed tothe axle, and meshing in the cogs of the pinion is a power wheel 7mounted on a spindle 9 which also turns freely at both ends in the sidewalls of the car where suitable journal bearings may be prepared, andthe same bearings also provided for the ends of the axle 8 in case theapparatus is designed as a vehicle for heavy use.

'On one end of the spindle 9 is fixed a thumb plate l0 by which theoperator may wind the wheel 7, and more particularly a train of wheelsis incased in the box 11. This train of wheels is not shown in detail asthe construction is not new and may be obtained from any stock carriedin a jewelers store and consists of a set of wheels working together bygeared edges, and connected to a power spring, so that as the operatorturns the plate and spindle 9 and l() the coil spring is wound up ortightened, and when the operator removes his hand from the plate thespring is released and tends to unwind as fast as the accompanyingconnecting wheels can be turned around together.

Extending down from each side of the car is a rod protruding alsolaterally as M, and with a counter-weight 5-5 on the lower end thereoffor balancing purposes.

Upon shaft 8 and in sheave 3 is mounted a star wheel for the purpose ofgripping into the cord 2.

In use the operator turns the spindle till the spring and train ofwheels have been wound up to the desired tension, and the running wheel3 is then placed over the cord andthe toy released from the hand, whenthe tension of the spring will cause the unwinding of the wheels and thetransmitted motion to be given the wheel 3 so that it turns rapidly, andthe car carried thereby along the 'cord or rope, primarily for amusementpurposes.

While this invention is designed particularly for a toy to beconstructed from tin or thin material, and cheaply, yet the design maybe carried into a commercial machine and used for the carriage ofpassengers or freight between stations.

What I claim is:

A toy vehicle comprising a body member and a single roller forengagement with an exterior surface, said body wholly mounted above saidexterior surface, and weights attached to said body straddling saidsurface below said surface for balancing said car.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HEIJ IRO SON ODA.

